1. Ovid, Fasti, 2.3-2.4, 2.47-2.54, 2.59, 2.61, 2.122, 2.127-2.148, 2.154-2.192, 2.267-2.380 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)
| 2.47. Yet (lest you err, through ignorance of their old order) 2.48. Though January is the first month, and was before 2.49. February that follows was once last in the ancient year. 2.50. And your worship, Terminus, closed the sacred rites. 2.51. The month of Janus came first, being the entrance (janua): 2.52. This month was last, sacred to the last rites of the dead. 2.53. Afterwards the Decemvirs are thought to have brought together 2.54. These months that had been parted by a wide interval of time. 2.59. All the rest would have similarly fallen in ruins 2.61. Under whose rule the shrines are untouched by age: 2.127. Sacred Father of the Country, this title has been conferred 2.128. On you, by the senate, the people, and by us, the knights. 2.129. Events had already granted it. Tardily you received 2.130. Your true title, you’d long been Father of the World. 2.131. You have on earth the name that Jupiter owns to 2.132. In high heaven: you are father of men, he of gods. 2.133. Romulus, give way: Caesar by his care makes your wall 2.134. Mighty: you made such as Remus could leap across. 2.138. Caesar possesses all beneath Jupiter’s heavens. 2.139. You raped married women: under Caesar they are ordered 2.140. To be chaste: you permitted the guilty your grove: he forbids them. 2.141. Force was acceptable to you: under Caesar the laws flourish. 2.142. You had the title Master: he bears the name of Prince. 2.143. Remus accused you, while he pardons his enemies. 2.144. Your father deified you: he deified his father. 2.146. And pours the gods flowing nectar mixed with water 2.154. That the Bear Keeper Bootes’ feet have emerged. 2.155. Callisto was one of the Hamadryads, among 2.156. The sacred band of the huntress Diana. 2.157. She laid her hand on the goddess’ bow, saying: 2.158. ‘Bear witness, bow I touch, to my virginity.’ 2.159. Cynthia praised the vow: ‘Keep faith with that 2.160. And you will be first among my companions.’ 2.161. She’d have kept her vow, if she’d not been beautiful: 2.162. She was wary of men, but sinned with Jupiter. 2.163. Phoebe had hunted many creatures through the woods 2.164. And was returning home at noon, or shortly after. 2.165. As she reached a grove (a dense grove dark with holm-oak 2.166. With a deep fount of cool water at its centre) 2.167. She said: ‘Arcadian virgin, let’s bathe here in the woods.’ 2.168. The girl blushed at the false title of virgin. 2.169. Diana spoke to the nymphs, and they undressed. 2.170. Callisto was ashamed, and gave bashful signs of delay. 2.171. Removing her tunic, her swollen belly 2.172. Gave clear witness to the burden she carried. 2.173. The goddess spoke to her, saying: ‘Daughter of Lycaon 2.174. Oath-breaker, leave the virgin band, do not defile pure waters.’ 2.175. Ten times the moon completed her full orb 2.176. When she, thought to be virgin, became a mother. 2.177. Juno, wounded, raged, and altered the girl’s form. 2.178. What would you? Jupiter had ravished her against her will. 2.179. And seeing in his victim a shameful animal face 2.180. Juno said: ‘Let Jupiter enjoy her embraces now!’ 2.181. She who had been loved by highest Jove 2.182. Roamed the wild mountains as a shaggy she-bear. 2.183. The boy she conceived furtively was adolescent 2.184. When the mother met the child she had born. 2.185. She reared, wildly, and growled, as if she knew him: 2.186. Growling was his mother’s only mode of speech. 2.187. The boy, unknowing, would have pierced her with his sharp spear 2.188. But they were both caught up into the heavenly mansions. 2.189. They shine as neighbouring constellations: first the Bear 2.190. Then the Bear-keeper takes shape behind her back. 2.191. Still, Juno, Saturn’s daughter, rages and begs grey Tethy 2.192. Never to wash the Maenalian Bear with her waters. 2.281. So we worship the god, and the priest perform 2.282. The rites the Pelasgians brought in the ancient way. 2.305. By chance Tirynthian Hercules was walking with Omphale 2.306. His mistress, and Faunus saw them from a high ridge. 2.307. He saw and burned. ‘Mountain spirits,’ he said 2.308. ‘No more of your company: she will be my passion.’ 2.309. As the Maeonian girl went by her fragrant hair streamed 2.310. Over her shoulders, her breast was bright with gold: 2.311. A gilded parasol protected her from warm sunlight 2.312. One Herculean hands, indeed, held over her. 2.313. Now she came to Bacchus’ grove, and Tmolus’ vineyard 2.314. While dew-wet Hesperus rode his dusky steed. 2.315. She entered a cave roofed with tufa and natural rock 2.316. And there was a babbling stream at its entrance. 2.317. While her attendants were preparing food and wine 2.318. She clothed Hercules in her own garments. 2.319. She gave him thin vests dyed in Gaetulian purple 2.320. Gave him the elegant zone that had bound her waist. 2.321. The zone was too small for his belly, and he unfastened 2.322. The clasps of the vests to thrust out his great hands. 2.323. He fractured her bracelets, not made for such arms 2.324. And his giant feet split the little shoes. 2.325. She took up his heavy club, and the lion’s pelt 2.326. And those lesser weapons lodged in their quiver. 2.327. So dressed, they feasted, and gave themselves to sleep 2.328. Resting on separate couches set next to one another 2.329. Because they were preparing to celebrate the rite 2.330. of the discoverer of the vine, with purity, at dawn. 2.331. It was midnight. What will unruly love not dare? 2.332. Faunus came through the dark to the dewy cave 2.333. And seeing the servants lost in drunken slumber 2.334. Had hopes of their master also being fast asleep. 2.335. Entering, as a reckless lover, he roamed around 2.336. Following his cautious outstretched hands. 2.337. He reached the couches spread as beds, by touch 2.338. And this first omen of the future was bright. 2.339. When he felt the bristling tawny lion-skin 2.340. However, he drew back his hand in terror 2.341. And recoiled, frozen with fear, as a traveller, troubled 2.342. Will draw back his foot on seeing a snake. 2.343. Then he touched the soft coverings of the next couch 2.344. And its deceptive feel misled him. 2.345. He climbed in, and reclined on the bed’s near side 2.346. And his swollen cock was harder than horn. 2.347. But pulling up the lower hem of the tunic 2.348. The legs there were bristling with thick coarse hair. 2.349. The Tirynthian hero fiercely repelled another attempt 2.350. And down fell Faunus from the heights of the couch. 2.351. At the noise, Omphale called for her servants, and light: 2.352. Torches appeared, and events became clear. 2.353. Faunus groaned from his heavy fall from the high couch 2.354. And could barely lift his limbs from the hard ground. 2.355. Hercules laughed, as did all who saw him lying there 2.356. And the Lydian girl laughed too, at her lover. 2.357. Betrayed by his clothing: so the god hates clothe 2.358. That trick the eye, and calls the naked to his rites. |
|